The horn, Jakartans' language of choice<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Arriving at the hotel from the airport, my
\nEnglish friend shouted excitedly, \"Only fifteen times, much
\nbetter.\"<\/p>\n
I was in the middle of a hassle in the hotel parking lot but
\nmanaged to demand an explanation. \"What is fifteen times? And
\nwhat is much better?\"<\/p>\n
\"Between Cengkareng and the hotel, you only blew your horn
\nfifteen times. Usually, it's twenty-five or thirty.\"<\/p>\n
\"So you were counting honks while I was struggling with
\ntraffic? Charming. Haven't you got anything better to do?\"<\/p>\n
\"I've been conducting a study. You people are very fond of
\nyour horns. You blast them for reasons that I don't understand,\"
\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
\"What's wrong with that?\"<\/p>\n
\"A horn, my deah,\" he explained in his Cockney accent, \"is
\ndesigned as a warning device to avoid accidents, not to release
\nyour frustrations. To me it is just noise pollution. It drives me
\ncrazy to hear a hundred cars honking simultaneously at a
\ncongested intersection. Blowing your horn won't help anything. If
\nyou're a second late when the light changes, Indonesians will
\nscream at you with their horns as if you had been sleeping in
\nyour car for an hour.\"<\/p>\n
I didn't realize how often I blew my horn until he pointed it
\nout. When driving, I concentrate on the traffic. Blowing a horn
\nis just a reaction to what I see along the way.<\/p>\n
It's true that Indonesians misuse the device for non-traffic-
\nrelated purposes.<\/p>\n
Indonesians blare the things whenever we want. We blow horns
\nto say \"Hurry up, man!\" to drivers in front of us. We blast them
\nto leer at the lady driving next us. When we overtake another car
\nwe mindlessly blow our horns to say, \"Excuse me, but my car is
\nfaster, newer and more reliable than yours.\"<\/p>\n
My friend's comment also inspired my ever-concerned wife to do
\nher usual non-profit research.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesians blow their horns to announce their well being.
\nPolan, our rich neighbor, does it to brag that he has bought a
\nnew car.\"<\/p>\n
\"Indonesians blare `Good morning' or `Hi' by a horn.
\nIndonesian men honk to harass beautiful girls. And, when I drove
\nyour car to the cigarette vendor and blasted the horn, a package
\nof your favorite cigarettes appeared without my saying a single
\nword.\"<\/p>\n
Her prattling was interrupted by a honk. It was our driver,
\nannouncing that the car was washed and ready to take our youngest
\ndaughter to school. She jumped to attention and rushed out. No
\nhollering was necessary, not a word was spoken -- thanks to the
\nhorn.<\/p>\n
-- Carl Chairul<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-horn-jakartans-language-of-choice-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }